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This teacher needs your help!

Ms. Utke from Maywood, CA is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Ms. Utke is requesting

And Then, Something Really Peculiar Happened

Help me give my students their very own copy of James and the Giant Peach.

  • $225 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Utke for her next project!

Help Ms. Utke

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Ms. Utke for her next project!

My Students

My students attend an inner-city urban school in a densely populated city. It is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the district and all of my students live far below the poverty line.

In all other respects they are typical eight- year-olds - mischievous, hard-working, enthusiastic, kind, silly, hilarious and creative.

They are as wonderful as third graders are all over the world, but they also struggle to have things most of us take for granted - food, transportation, clothing, and books.

Many of them are learning English as a new language, and all of them are trying their best during this crazy, difficult year. When you talk with them it is hard to remember the many challenges they face, as they greet most days with a smile and great deal of motivation to learn.

My Project

For a year now my students have been digitally tethered to their Chromebooks and iPads. I am asking for a class set of James and the Giant Peach so that they can hold an actual book in their hands. We will be able to be build our class community as we read this story together. We will use the books for read alouds, literature circles, class discussions, and independent reading.

James and the Giant Peach is wonderful story full of rich figurative language, suspense, and lessons about friendship and overcoming adversity by working together.

We have had to make so many adjustments to learning during this past year. I would love them to have a real book in their hands and give them the chance to have time away from the digital screen. I want us to enjoy this book together and learn that although life is unpredictable and occasionally scary, happiness can often be found in the pages of a good book.

Ms. Utke Loma Vista Avenue Elementary School Grades 3-5

Equity Focus

This project directly supports students at a historically underfunded school. Learn more about our Equity Focus.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Ms. Utke

Maywood, CA View local requests

Nearly all students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

24 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Ms. Utke is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
James and the Giant Peach • AKJ Education $5.59 25 $139.75

Materials cost

$139.75

Vendor shipping charges

 $6.00

Sales tax

 $12.79

3rd party payment processing fee

$2.10

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$190.64

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$33.64

Total project goal

$224.28

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $224.28

1 Donor

-$112.14

Donations toward project cost

-$95.32

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$16.82

match offer

-$112.14

Match offer toward project cost

-$95.32

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$16.82

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Utke and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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